Filter assembly for laundry machine

Abstract

A filter assembly includes a filter housing having an inlet side defining an inlet port to receive a flow of laundry liquid and an outlet side defining an outlet port. The filter assembly also includes a filter membrane arranged inside the filter housing and dividing the filter housing into the inlet side and the outlet side and configured to filter and collect lint such as micro-fibres from the laundry liquid. A lint receptacle is arranged connected to the inlet side of the filter housing to, on occasion, receive a backflow of laundry liquid from the filter housing. The backflowing laundry liquid contains at least some of the lint collected on the filter membrane. Moreover, a first valve selectively connects the inlet side of the filter housing to the lint receptacle to thereby allow backflowing, lint-containing laundry liquid to pass from the filter housing to the lint receptacle.

Description

FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR LAUNDRY MACHINETECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates, generally, to a laundry machine and more particularly relates to a fdter assembly for a laundry machine, suitable for filtering wash fluid drained from the machine following a washing cycle.BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] During the washing process in a laundry washing machine or a laundry washing and drying machine, fabric fibres are released from the washing load into the wash fluid. The fibres are released due to agitation of the load as well as due to rubbing of the clothes with each other or with the inner surface of the drum of the laundry machine. Subsequently, the fibres along with the wash fluid are drained to a drainage system. Natural fibres (such as cotton or wool) will eventually disintegrate but laundry items made of synthetic materials (such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic) release fibres, or microfibers, that are longer-lasting, polluting environment and potentially the food-chain, which is undesirable.SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

[0003] One aspect of this disclosure relates to a filter assembly for a laundry machine. The filter assembly comprises a filter housing having an inlet side defining an inlet port to receive a flow of laundry liquid and an outlet side defining an outlet port to enable dispensing of filtered laundry liquid from the filter housing. The filter assembly also includes a filter membrane arranged inside the filter housing and dividing the filter housing into the inlet side and the outlet side and configured to filter and collect lint from the laundry liquid. The filter assembly further includes a lint receptacle connected to the inlet side of the filter housing to, on occasion, receive a backflow of laundry liquid from the inlet side of the filter housing. The backflowing laundry liquid contains at least some of the lint collected on the filter membrane. Moreover, the filter assembly includes a first valve for selectively connecting the inlet side of the filter housing to the lint receptacle to thereby allow backflowing, lint-containing laundry liquid to pass from the filter housing to the lint receptacle when an inlet flow of the laundry liquid inside the filter housing through the inlet port is below a threshold flow.

[0004] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the lint receptacle includes an outer housing and an inner housing arranged within the outer housing. The inner housing defines a plurality of openings to allow the backflowing laundry liquid toexit the inner housing while retaining at least some of the lint from the backflowing lintcontaining laundry liquid inside the inner housing.

[0005] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the fdter assembly further comprises an inlet conduit connecting between the inlet port of the fdter housing and a drain hose of the laundry machine to allow a flow of laundry liquid to the inlet port from the laundry machine.

[0006] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the fdter assembly further comprises a second valve arranged in the flow of laundry liquid passing through the inlet conduit to allow the laundry liquid to flow towards the inlet port of the fdter housing and to obstruct the laundry liquid flowing in the opposite direction through the inlet conduit.

[0007] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the fdter assembly further includes a bypass conduit fluidly connecting the inlet conduit to the lint receptacle to enable a flow of the laundry liquid between the lint receptacle and the inlet conduit. The bypass conduit is connected to the inlet conduit such that the second valve is arranged between the inlet port of the fdter housing and the bypass conduit.

[0008] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, at least one of the first valve and the second valve is a check valve.

[0009] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the first valve is a one-way valve that selectively obstructs the flow of the laundry liquid from the lint receptacle to the fdter housing.

[0010] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the fdter assembly further comprises a plurality of guide vanes arranged to cause the backflowing lintcontaining laundry liquid entering the lint receptacle to swirl.

[0011] In accordance with another example embodiment, a laundry machine is disclosed. The laundry machine, comprises a cabinet, a tub arranged inside the cabinet and configured to hold laundry liquid, a drain hose fluidly coupled to the tub to facilitate a discharge of the laundry liquid from the tub, and a fdter assembly connected to the drain hose to remove at least some of the lint from the laundry liquid discharged via the drain hose and dispense the filtered laundry liquid. The fdter assembly comprises a fdter housing having an inlet side defining an inlet port fluidly coupled to the drain hose to receive the discharged laundry liquid and an outlet side defining an outlet port to enable dispensing of filtered laundry liquid from the fdterhousing. The filter assembly also includes a filter membrane arranged inside the filter housing and dividing the filter housing into the inlet side and the outlet side and configured to filter and collect lint from the laundry liquid. The filter assembly further includes a lint receptacle connected to the inlet side of the filter housing to, on occasion, receive a backflow of laundry liquid from the inlet side of the filter housing. The backflowing laundry liquid containing at least some of the lint collected on the filter membrane. Moreover, the filter assembly includes a first valve for selectively connecting the inlet side of the filter housing to the lint receptacle to thereby allow backflowing of the lint-containing laundry liquid to pass from the filter housing to the lint receptacle when an inlet flow of the laundry liquid inside the filter housing through the inlet port is below a threshold flow.

[0012] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the lint receptacle includes an outer housing and an inner housing arranged within the outer housing. The inner housing defines a plurality of openings to allow the backflowing laundry liquid to exit the inner housing while retaining at least some of the lint from the backflowing lintcontaining laundry liquid inside the inner housing.

[0013] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the filter assembly further comprises an inlet conduit connecting between the inlet port of the filter housing and the drain hose to allow a flow of laundry liquid to the inlet port from the drain hose.

[0014] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the filter assembly further comprises a second valve arranged in the flow of laundry liquid passing through the inlet conduit to allow it to flow towards the inlet port of the filter housing and to obstruct it flowing in the opposite direction in the inlet conduit.

[0015] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the filter assembly further includes a bypass conduit fluidly connecting the inlet conduit to the lint receptacle to enable a flow of the laundry liquid between the lint receptacle and the inlet conduit. The bypass conduit is connected to the inlet conduit on a side of the second valve that is remote from the filter housing.

[0016] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, at least one of the first valve and the second valve is a check valve.

[0017] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the first valve is a one-way valve that selectively obstructs the flow of the laundry liquid from the lint receptacle to the filter housing.

[0018] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the filter assembly further comprises a plurality of guide vanes arranged to cause the backflowing lintcontaining laundry liquid entering the lint receptacle to swirl.

[0019] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the laundry machine further includes a pump fluidly connecting the tub to the drain hose to drain the laundry liquid to the drain hose from the tub.

[0020] In some additional, alternative, or selectively cumulative embodiments, the first valve remains closed during the operation of the pump and opens to allow the backflow of laundry liquid from the filter housing to the lint receptacle when the operation of the pump is stopped.

[0021] Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1A is a schematic view of an exemplary laundry washing machine having a filter assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, incorporated within the laundry machine;

[0023] FIG. IB is a schematic view of an exemplary laundry washing machine having a filter assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, connected externally to the laundry machine;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the filter assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectional perspective view of the filter assembly of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 4A is a front sectional view of the filter assembly of FIG. 2, depicting a flow path of laundry liquid when a pump of the laundry machine is in operation to discharge laundry liquid from the laundry machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 4B is a front sectional view of the filter assembly of FIG. 2, depicting a flow path of laundry liquid after a pump of the laundry machine stops discharging laundry liquid from the laundry machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0028] FIG. 5 is a sectional front view of a filter assembly, in accordance with an alternative embodiment to the filter assembly of FIG. 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Example embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise expressly stated in the drawings, the sizes, positions, etc., of components, features, elements, etc., as well as any distances therebetween, are not necessarily to scale, and may be disproportionate and / or exaggerated for clarity.

[0030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be recognised that the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Unless otherwise specified, a range of values, when recited, includes both the upper and lower limits of the range, as well as any sub-ranges therebetween. Unless indicated otherwise, terms such as “first,” “second,” etc., are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, one element could be termed a “first element” and similarly, another element could be termed a “second element,” or vice versa. The section headings used herein are for organisational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

[0031] Unless indicated otherwise, the terms “about”, “thereabout”, “substantially”, etc., mean that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and / or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art.

[0032] Spatially relative terms, such as “right”, left”, “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”, and “upper”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature’s relationship to another element or feature, as illustrated in the drawings. It shouldbe recognised that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if an object in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below”, or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can, for example, encompass both an orientation of above and below. An object may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

[0033] Unless clearly indicated otherwise, all connections and all operative connections may be direct or indirect. Similarly, unless clearly indicated otherwise, all connections and all operative connections may be rigid or non-rigid.

[0034] Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thus, the same or similar numbers may be described with reference to other drawings even if they are neither mentioned nor described in the corresponding drawing. Also, even elements that are not denoted by reference numbers may be described with reference to other drawings.

[0035] Many different forms and embodiments are possible without deviating from the teachings of this disclosure and so this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0036] Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments.

[0037] Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1A, a laundry machine 100 is shown. The laundry machine 100 is shown and contemplated as a front loading / horizontal axis washing machine 102, but could be, without any limitation, a laundry washer, a laundry dryer, a combination laundry washer-dryer, a top loading / vertical axis laundry washing machine, etc. As shown in the exemplary schematic drawing, and as well-known, the laundry machine 100 includes a cabinet 104 with a front door (not shown) allowing access to a rotatable and perforated generally cylindrical inner drum 110 (hereinafter referred to as simply drum 110)for holding a laundry load such as clothing for washing, rinsing, and / or drying, and mounted within the cabinet 104 to rotate about a central, generally horizontal axis. A generally cylindrical, fixed (i.e., non-rotating) outer drum (i.e., water container or tub) 114 is mounted (suspended, for example on springs / dampers) within the cabinet 104 and encloses the rotatable drum 110. Tub 114 is configured to receive washing liquid, generally a water and detergent mixture, and drum 110 receives washing liquid from the tub 114 through the perforations in a circumferential surface of the drum 110. The laundry machine 100 further includes a motor not shown) that is coupled to drum 110 to rotate the drum 110 about its horizontal axis. The motor may cause the tub to oscillate in different rotational directions at low speed, such as during a washing phase of a machine operating cycle, or to rotate at a high speed, such as during a spin extraction phase of a machine operating cycle when washing liquid is extracted centrifugally from the laundry load. In some embodiments, the drum 110 may be directly connected to a rotor shaft of the motor, or may be directly driven by a belt connecting the rotor shaft and a shaft of the tub. Alternatively, a gearbox (not shown) may be arranged between the shaft of drum 110 and the rotor shaft to rotate drum 110.

[0038] Laundry machine 100 also includes a pump assembly 120 that includes a pump 122 (such as a drain pump, or recirculation pump) and a coarse, pump filter or “coin trap” to capture small items such as hair clips or buttons from the laundry load that manage to pass to the tub from the drum with the laundry liquid and which could potentially obstruct the pump. A filter assembly 124 is arranged downstream of the pump 122 and configured to receive drain fluid, comprising soil / lint entrained washing liquid from pump 122 and to remove lint from the drain fluid before it is discharged to a household drainage system. Accordingly, pump 122 is configured to pump the drain fluid from the tub 114 to the filter assembly 124. The filter assembly 124 may be connected to the pump 122 via a first hose 126, and discharge filtered drain fluid to the drainage system via a further section 127 of hose (hoses 126 and 127 may, together comprise the machine’s drain hose). FIG. 1A shows filter assembly 124 attached within, integrated with or otherwise contained inside cabinet 104 of laundry machine 100. As such, filter assembly 124 could be a component part of the laundry machine at the time of purchase, although it could also be fitted within cabinet 124 after purchase. As will become apparent from the ensuing description, it is preferable that parts of the filter assembly be positioned so as to be accessible by the user and / or a service technician so that they can be appropriately maintained as required, so filter assembly may need to be located, for example, behind a flap / door or removable panel of the laundry machine. However, it is equally feasiblethat filter assembly 124 could be provided, as is illustrated in FIG. IB, as a separate component to laundry machine 100 that is fittable or retrofittable to an existing laundry machine outside cabinet 104 by a user or service technician. Filtration system 124 may therefore be adapted for attachment to an outer surface of the cabinet or to a wall adjacent to the installed laundry machine, and adapted to be connected to an external end of the laundry machine’s first drain hose section 126 (that is, an end of hose 126 that is external to cabinet 104).

[0039] As best shown in FIGS. 2-4, filter assembly 124 includes an inlet conduit 130 adapted to be fluidly coupled, at an inlet end 152, to the pump 122 via drain hose section 126 to receive the drain fluid from tub 114. Although unlikely, in some embodiments, filter assembly 124 may be directly connected to an outlet of pump 122, and therefore, particularly in cases where the filter assembly is internally-mounted with respect to cabinet 104, first drain hose section 126 may be omitted and replaced by a direct connection or coupling. It may be appreciated that filter assembly 124 has a longitudinal extent aligned in use in a substantially vertical direction and is preferably arranged, at least partially, vertically above pump 122, ideally above the maximum working water level in tub 114. Further, the filter assembly 124 includes a filter housing 132 defining a chamber 134, shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, to receive the drain fluid from the inlet conduit 130. To facilitate entry of the drain fluid to chamber 134, the filter housing 132 defines an inlet port 138 to which the inlet conduit 130 is connected. Further, the filter housing 132 defines an outlet port 140 to enable outflow of filtered drain fluid from chamber 134 of filter assembly 124. Outlet port 140 may be directly connected to the drainage system (such as a drainpipe in a user’s laundry), or may be connected to the drainage system via the second section 127 of drain hose (as shown in Figure 1), irrespective of whether filter assembly 124 is internally or externally mounted with respect to cabinet 104.

[0040] As shown, the filter housing 132 is arranged in use such that the inlet port 138 of chamber 134 is arranged at a height vertically below outlet port 140, and filter housing 132 has a longitudinal extent that is aligned vertically. Further, filter assembly 124 includes a filter membrane 142 for removing lint and / or micro-fibres (hereinafter simply referred to as “lint”) from the drain liquid. Filter membrane 42 may comprise, for example, a cloth filter, filter sock or any other suitable flexible medium that is preferably capable of shape inversion, or in other words, turning "inside-out", as the liquid flow direction through it changes. This change in shape of the filter 142 as the direction of liquid flow changes helps to remove accumulated lint from the surface of filter 142 via a peeling action, which, in combination with the backflow of liquid through the filter, improves lint removal / recovery from the filter surface. The filtermembrane 142 is arranged inside chamber 134, spanning the entire cross-sectional area of chamber 134, and thereby divides the chamber 134 into a first compartment 144 (i.e., lower compartment or inlet side 144), and a second compartment 146 (i.e., upper compartment or outlet side 146).. The lower compartment 144 is arranged fluidly connected to inlet conduit 130 via the inlet port 138 and receives drain fluid from pump 122 via inlet conduit 130, while upper compartment 146 is fluidly coupled to the outlet port 140, through which the filtered drain fluid exits chamber 134.

[0041] As will be further explained below, to selectively control a reverse flow of drain fluid, along with lint, from the filter housing 132 to a receptacle 162, the filter assembly 124 includes a valve 196 (i.e., a first valve 196). To prevent / obstruct a reverse / backflow of drain fluid towards pump 120 from the first compartment 144 through inlet conduit 130 when pump 122 is not operating, the filter assembly 124 includes a valve 150 (i.e., a second valve 150) arranged between the inlet port 138 of filter housing 132 and an inlet 152 of the inlet conduit 130, and connected to the inlet conduit 130. The second valve 150 may be a one-way valve that allows flow of drain fluid from the inlet 152 (i.e., from pump 122) to the first compartment 144 via the inlet conduit 130, while preventing / obstructing the backflow of the drain fluid from the first compartment 144 to the inlet 152 via the inlet conduit 130. In an embodiment, the one-way valve 150 is a diaphragm valve having flexible membrane or diaphragml56 formed, for example, from rubber or an elastomeric material. One-way valve 150 may alternatively be envisioned as a check valve, such as a duckbill valve, or a tricuspid (or “joker”) valve. For example, one-way valve 150 may be implemented by the rubber tricuspid valve manufactured by the Navico Group and sold under the Whale mark with part number SDS21 IB, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 which show, in cross-section, three equally, circumferentially spaced pairs of resilient lips 156 providing a closable orifice. As is well-known, each pair of lips is formed by flattened, opposed flexible flaps that part, opening the valve, when pressure is exerted between the flaps, and which close when that pressure is removed. Second valve 150 may alternatively be provided by any other valve known in the art and suitable / configured to allow a flow of a fluid in one direction, while preventing / obstructing the flow of the fluid in a second, opposite direction.

[0042] Further, the filter housing 132 defines an exit port 160 arranged proximate to or at a bottom / lower end of the filter housing 132 to facilitate a backflow of drain fluid from the first compartment 144 (i.e., filter housing 132) to a chamber within a lint receptacle 162 (simply referred to hereinafter as receptacle 162) of the filter assembly 124. This occurs when the pump122 is switched off, or de-energised, or has no, or a very low, outlet flow rate, such that oneway valve 150 closes and filtered drain fluid collected inside second, upper compartment 146 flows downwardly to the first compartment 144 under gravity through the filter membrane 142, as shown in FIG. 4B. As the filtered drain fluid flows back to the first compartment 144, the lint collected on the filter membrane 142 and present inside the first compartment 144 is washed along with the fluid and enters the receptacle 162 through the exit port 160. As previously mentioned, removal of accumulated lint from the underside of filter membrane 142 may be assisted by the flexible nature of the filter membrane enabling it to go through a shape inversion when subjected to a reverse flow therethrough, so that peeling of a lint layer from the filter membrane may occur. For example, the filter membrane shown in Figures 4A and 4B transforms, through inversion, from an upwardly pointed substantially conical shape to a downwardly pointed substantially conical shape.

[0043] As shown, the receptacle 162 is arranged vertically beneath the filter housing 132 and is arranged in fluid communication with the first compartment 144 of chamber 134 via the exit port 160. Receptacle 162 includes a first, upper end 164 coupled or connected or engaged to the bottom of the filter housing 132 and a second, lower end 166 arranged vertically below the first end 164. The lower end 166 defines an outlet 170 that is fluidly connected to the inlet conduit 130 via a bypass conduit 172 to enable a flow of the drain fluid between the inlet conduit 130 and the receptacle 162 via the outlet 170. Accordingly, the bypass conduit 172 connects the receptacle 162 and the inlet conduit 130. As shown, the bypass conduit 172 is connected to the inlet conduit 130 at a location upstream of the one-way valve 150 in a direction of flow of drain fluid from the pump 122 to the filter housing 132. Therefore, the second valve 150 is arranged between the inlet port 138 of the filter housing 132 and the bypass conduit 172.

[0044] Moreover, the receptacle 162 includes an outer housing 174 and an inner housing 176 arranged inside the outer housing 174 and defining a collection bin (or receptacle, basket, bucket, or strainer) 180 for storing filtered lint. As shown, outer housing 174 incorporates the outlet 170 through which the drain fluid is exchanged between the receptacle 162 and the inlet conduit 130. To enable a removal of the entrained lint from the backflowing drain fluid entering receptacle 162 via exit port 160, a swirling motion may be induced in the drain fluid as it enters receptacle 162 from the first compartment 144.

[0045] To induce a swirling motion, receptacle 162 may include one or more guide vanes 182 arrayed around a central axis 184 of the inner housing 176 and extending at least somewhat radially inwardly from an inner surface of the inner housing 176. That is, guide vanes 182 maybe arrayed along an inner circumference of the inner housing 176, extending towards axis 184, and shaped or angled so as to impart rotational or swirling flow to the back-flowing drain fluid about axis 184. Due to this swirling motion of the backflowing drain fluid inside the inner housing 176, a vortex may be formed in the drain fluid in which entrained lint moves / remains proximate to the central axis 184, while the remaining drain liquid moves towards the wall 186 of the inner housing 176 and exits through a plurality of openings 190 of the side wall 186. Upon exiting the inner housing 176, the drain liquid may move through a gap 192 defined between the inner housing 176 and the outer housing 174 and reaches the outlet 170 through which the drain liquid flows to the inlet conduit 130 via the bypass conduit 172. During this movement of the back-flowing drain fluid through receptacle 162, lint is collected at a preferably non-perforated, solid, or fine mesh bottom or base wall of the inner housing 176. Accumulated lint may be removed from the receptacle 162 by a user by removing receptacle 162 from the filter housing 132, either after a single machine washing cycle, or after several machine washing cycles. Swirling of the drain fluid in receptacle 162 may additionally or alternatively be induced or encouraged by providing outlet 170 so that its longitudinal axis is directed away from axis 184. Thus, as drain fluid empties from receptacle 162, at least some tangential component is introduced to its flow. Similarly, inlet port 138 could have its longitudinal axis directed away from axis 184 so that swirl is induced in drain fluid entering filter housing 132 to provide some control over the distribution of lint on the underside of filter membrane 142 (for example, lint may be focussed towards the centre of the filter membrane so that it forms a thicker layer which is more easily peeled from the membrane).

[0046] Inner housing 176 could, alternatively, be provided as a solid structure (for example a solid plastics structure) containing a labyrinth capture system insert. Such an insert would act as a lint receptacle and be designed to provide plural labyrinthine paths through which lint- entrained drain fluid is forced to pass as it travels downwardly through lint receptacle 162, and in which lint tends to be caught and trapped while liquid is able to pass through. Such a solid lint capture system would also occasionally be removed by the user and cleaned (which may include knocking the structure over a bin or into a paper towel) before being reinserted for further use.

[0047] As mentioned above, to selectively control or allow the reverse flow of drain fluid along with lint from filter housing 132 to receptacle 162, the aforementioned first valve 196 is arranged between the receptacle 162 and the filter housing 132, for example inside an upper region of receptacle 162. Preferably, first valve 196 comprises a one-way valve or a checkvalve. As shown in FIG. 4A, the first valve 196 is configured to prevent / obstruct the flow of drain fluid from the receptacle 162 to filter housing 132 when laundry machine pump 122 is operating to discharge drain fluid. In an alternate configuration illustrated in FIG. 4B, first valve 196 allows the backflowing under gravity of drain fluid from the first compartment 144 of filter housing 132 to the receptacle 162 via the exit port 160. This backflowing of drain fluid occurs when the flow of drain fluid to the filter housing 132 via the inlet port 138 is below a threshold flow, i.e., when the pump 122 is not operating or the flow rate of liquid via the pump is below a low threshold flow rate. In an embodiment, the threshold flow rate is zero, or no flow. In other embodiments, the threshold flow rate may be a very low, but non-zero flow rate which is insufficient to avert back-flowing of the drain fluid through filter assembly 124.

[0048] First valve 196 preferably includes a buoyant, air-filled ball 200 which may be made of a plastics material (similar to a table tennis ball, for example) adapted to be moved between a first position (as shown in FIG. 4A) and a second position (as shown in FIG. 4B). In the first position (FIG. 4A), the ball 200 is arranged in an upper position and engaging a valve seat surrounding the exit port 160 thereby blocking / obstructing the flow of drain fluid from the filter housing 132 to the receptacle 162 and vice versa. In the second position (FIG. 4B), the ball 200 is arranged in a lower position and away from the seat of exit port 160, allowing the backflow of drain fluid from the first compartment 144 to the receptacle 162 via the exit port 160.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 5, a filter assembly 124' according to an alternative embodiment is shown. The filter assembly 124' is similar to the filter assembly 124 except that a cylindrical receptacle 162' of the filter assembly 124' is arranged with its central axis 184' inclined at an angle to the axis 184 of filter housing 132, and the guide vanes 182 are omitted from the filter assembly 124'. Preferably the angle of inclination between the two axes is acute. A removable lid 197 is provided at the upper end of receptacle 162', to allow a user to open the receptacle and to remove collection bin 180 for emptying. An intake port 161' of receptacle 162' which is arranged in communication with the exit port 160 of filter housing 132 is formed in the side wall of receptacle 162' structured so that drain fluid entering the inner housing 176 through the exit port 160, and hence through intake port 161', is directed in a plane substantially perpendicular to axis 184' but away from axis 184'. Thus, the flow of drain fluid entering inner housing 176 includes at least partial tangential flow to the inner surface of inner housing 176, causing a swirling of the drain fluid inside inner housing 176, about axis 184'.

[0050] To discharge the drain fluid from the laundry machine 100 having the filter assembly 124, a controller within laundry machine 100 activates pump 122 at the end of, or during, for example a laundry washing, rinsing, spinning or draining cycle to discharge the drain fluid from tub 114. Accordingly, the drain fluid flows to the inlet conduit 130 from the pump 122, and subsequently to the filter housing 132 through the inlet port 138. A portion of the drain fluid flowing through inlet conduit 130 enters receptacle 162 through bypass conduit 172, forcing buoyant ball 200 upwardly to the first position, causing the first valve 196 to close. In this position, ball 200 prevents / blocks the flow of drain fluid between chamber 134 of filter housing 132 and receptacle 162 through the exit port 160. The flow of drain fluid from pump 122 is forced to then move upwardly through inlet conduit 130 and into second valve 150. Second valve 150 is arranged to allow flow of drain fluid towards first compartment 144 and so drain fluid passes through filter membrane 142 and filtered drain fluid exits filter assembly 124 via outlet port 140 and is discharged to a drain. Arrows shown in FIG. 4A show a flow path of the drain fluid from the pump 122 to the outlet port 140 while pump 122 is in operation.

[0051] When the controller deactivates / stops / pauses operation of pump 122, and / or the flow of drain fluid drops below the threshold rate, the upward force acting on ball 200 is removed, and the ball moves downwardly to the second position (FIG. 4B), opening first valve 196, as drain fluid within receptacle 162 flows under gravity back towards pump 122 via bypass conduit 172 and the level of liquid in receptacle 162 drops. Also, due to the stoppage of the pump 122, the filtered drain fluid present inside the second compartment 146 flows backward to the first compartment 144 under gravity and through the filter membrane 142. In so doing, lint particles collected / deposited on the filter membrane 142 are peeled or otherwise removed and carried with the backflowing drain fluid to receptacle 162 through exit port 160.

[0052] Upon entering receptacle 162, a swirling motion may be induced in the backflowing drain fluid due to the guide vanes 182. Due to this swirling motion of the backflowing drain fluid inside collection bin 180, at least a portion of the lint moves / remains proximate to the central axis 184, while the remaining drain liquid moves towards the wall 186 of the inner housing 176 and exits via openings 190 of wall 186. The separated lint is collected at the bottom of the collection bin 180, and may accumulate over multiple washing cycles of the laundry machine. The lint may be removed from the receptacle 162 by detaching the receptacle 162 and emptying collection bin 180. Arrows shown in FIG. 4B show a flow path of the drain fluid from the filter housing 132 to the receptacle 162 while pump 122 as pump 122 stops operation (or remains in operation, but with its outflow below the low threshold value).

[0053] Operation of filter assembly 124' is similar to operation of filter assembly 124 except that the swirling motion of drain fluid inside the inner housing 176 of filter assembly 124' is induced due to the presence of a tangential flow component in the drain fluid as the drain fluid enters the inner housing 176 substantially perpendicularly to axis 184', but directed away from the axis.

[0054] It will be appreciated that the described operation(s) enable(s) accumulated lint to be removed from the filter membrane 142 by simply activating and then temporarily stopping operation of pump 122, or by taking advantage of the sometimes intermittent, i.e., on / off, operation of pump 122 that is often a feature of wash or rinse or drain cycles of modem laundry washing machines, causing the direction of drain liquid flow in the drain hose to intermittently change its direction through the filter membrane of filter assembly 124.

[0055] Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosures set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these disclosures pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosures are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A filter assembly for a laundry machine, comprising: a filter housing having an inlet side defining an inlet port to receive a flow of laundry liquid and an outlet side defining an outlet port to enable dispensing of filtered laundry liquid from the filter housing; a filter membrane arranged inside the filter housing and dividing the filter housing into the inlet side and the outlet side and configured to filter and collect lint from the laundry liquid; a lint receptacle connected to the inlet side of the filter housing to, on occasion, receive a backflow of laundry liquid from the inlet side of the filter housing, the backflowing laundry liquid containing at least some of the lint collected on the filter membrane; and a first valve for selectively connecting the inlet side of the filter housing to the lint receptacle to thereby allow backflowing, lint-containing laundry liquid to pass from the filter housing to the lint receptacle when an inlet flow of the laundry liquid inside the filter housing through the inlet port is below a threshold flow.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the lint receptacle includes an outer housing and an inner housing arranged within the outer housing, wherein the inner housing defines a plurality of openings to allow the backflowing laundry liquid to exit the inner housing while retaining at least some of the lint from the backflowing lint-containing laundry liquid inside the inner housing.

3. The filter assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an inlet conduit connecting between the inlet port of the filter housing and a drain hose of the laundry machine to allow a flow of laundry liquid to the inlet port from the laundry machine.

4. The filter assembly of claim 3, further comprising a second valve arranged in the flow of laundry liquid passing through the inlet conduit to allow the laundry liquid to flow towards the inlet port of the filter housing and to obstruct the laundry liquid flowing in the opposite direction through the inlet conduit.

5. The filter assembly of claim 4, further including a bypass conduit fluidly connecting the inlet conduit to the lint receptacle to enable a flow of the laundry liquid between the lint receptacle and the inlet conduit, wherein the bypass conduit is connected to the inlet conduit such that the second valve is arranged between the inlet port of the filter housing and the bypass conduit.

6. The filter assembly of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is a check valve.

7. The filter assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first valve is a oneway valve that selectively obstructs the flow of the laundry liquid from the lint receptacle to the filter housing.

8. The filter assembly of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of guide vanes arranged to cause the backflowing lint-containing laundry liquid entering the lint receptacle to swirl.

9. A laundry machine, comprising: a cabinet; a tub arranged inside the cabinet and configured to hold laundry liquid; a drain hose fluidly coupled to the tub to facilitate a discharge of the laundry liquid from the tub; and a filter assembly connected to the drain hose to remove at least some of the lint from the laundry liquid discharged via the drain hose and dispense the filtered laundry liquid, the filter assembly comprising a filter housing having an inlet side defining an inlet port fluidly coupled to the drain hose to receive the discharged laundry liquid and an outlet side defining an outlet port to enable dispensing of filtered laundry liquid from the filter housing, a filter membrane arranged inside the filter housing and dividing the filter housing into the inlet side and the outlet side and configured to filter and collect lint from the laundry liquid, a lint receptacle connected to the inlet side of the filter housing to, on occasion, receive a backflow of laundry liquid from the inlet side of the filter housing, thebackflowing laundry liquid containing at least some of the lint collected on the filter membrane, and a first valve for selectively connecting the inlet side of the filter housing to the lint receptacle to thereby allow backflowing of the lint-containing laundry liquid to pass from the filter housing to the lint receptacle when an inlet flow of the laundry liquid inside the filter housing through the inlet port is below a threshold flow.

10. The laundry machine of claim 9, wherein the lint receptacle includes an outer housing and an inner housing arranged within the outer housing, wherein the inner housing defines a plurality of openings to allow the backflowing laundry liquid to exit the inner housing while retaining at least some of the lint from the backflowing lint-containing laundry liquid inside the inner housing.

11. The laundry machine of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the filter assembly further comprises an inlet conduit connecting between the inlet port of the filter housing and the drain hose to allow a flow of laundry liquid to the inlet port from the drain hose.

12. The laundry machine of claim 11, wherein the filter assembly further comprises a second valve arranged in the flow of laundry liquid passing through the inlet conduit to allow it to flow towards the inlet port of the filter housing and to obstruct it flowing in the opposite direction in the inlet conduit.

13. The laundry machine of claim 12, wherein the filter assembly further includes a bypass conduit fluidly connecting the inlet conduit to the lint receptacle to enable a flow of the laundry liquid between the lint receptacle and the inlet conduit, wherein the bypass conduit is connected to the inlet conduit on a side of the second valve that is remote from the filter housing.

14. The laundry machine of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is a check valve.

15. The laundry machine of any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the first valve is a one-way valve that selectively obstructs the flow of the laundry liquid from the lint receptacle to the filter housing.

16. The laundry machine of any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the filter assembly further comprises a plurality of guide vanes arranged to cause the backflowing lint-containing laundry liquid entering the lint receptacle to swirl.

17. The laundry machine of any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the filter housing is arranged vertically above the lint receptacle, and the backflowing lint-containing laundry liquid flows to the lint receptacle under gravity when the flow of the laundry liquid from the drain hose drops below the threshold flow.

18. The laundry machine of any one of claims 9 to 17, further including a pump fluidly connecting the tub to the drain hose to drain the laundry liquid to the drain hose from the tub.

19. The laundry machine of claim 18, wherein the first valve remains closed during the operation of the pump and opens to allow the backflow of laundry liquid from the filter housing to the lint receptacle when the operation of the pump is stopped.

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